
SILENT 


VOTER 
















THE NATION’S 
BEST THOUGHT 



POLITICAL COUNCIL AND 
OFFICIAL RESIGNATION 
METHOD 


AUGUST F. SEVERIN 

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i ooe 

OKLAHOMA PRINTING CO. 
OUTHRiE 



















L»6 HARY “o7 00 NGK E SS 

I wo Couies Heceiv* 

JUN 15 1908 

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Copyright, 1908, by August F. Severin. 

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Political Council and Official Resignation Method 3 


PREFACE. 

The Nation’s Best Thought is intended to reunite 
the people with their government and awaken in them 
the duty which they owe to themselves and this nation. 

It lays bare the breach which has been gradually 
creeping in between the people and their government. 
It presents a plan or method which, if adopted, will 
again make the voice of the people potent in govern¬ 
ment. 

The ideas and thoughts embodied in this work are 
the carefully recast beliefs and opinions of the best 
writers and lecturers of the last twenty years, who 
have and are defending the cause of the masses. 

A Silent Voter. 


4 The Nation’s Best Thought, or 

INTRODUCTION. 

We maintain that the principles promulgated in 
the Declaration of Independence and embodied in the 
Federal Constitution, viz.: “That all men are created 
equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with 
certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, 
liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure 
these rights, governments are instituted among men, 
deriving their just powers from the consent of the 
governed,” are essential to the preservation and wel¬ 
fare of our Republic and its institutions. 

We recognize it to be the inherent and inalienable 
righ t of the people in their sovereign capacity to make 
and to amend their form of government in such man¬ 
ner and by such means as the welfare of the community 
may require. 

We rely upon the intelligence of the American 
people, with an abiding confidence in their capacity for 
self government and their devotion to the Constitution 
and the Union. The people’s sense of justice is the 
source and guarantee of good government. There is a 
standard of morality and conscience whereby all public 
questions are measured. More perfect will a form of 
government become, when every effort to make the 
voice of its citizens potent in its government has been 
realized, and the interest of the people paramount in 
its legislation. 

The forces of civilization have been working with 
tremendous momentum in the past few years. This 
nation is no longer the government of thirteen strug¬ 
gling states, a mere fringe along the Atlantic coast, 

» 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 5 

with less than four million souls, but a vast, magnifi¬ 
cent land, reaching its outstretched arms from ocean 
to ocean, with forty-six states, three territories and 
numerous island possessions, having a population of 
over eighty million and in prowess equal to that of 
any nation on the face of the earth. 

The press of today, with its daily, weekly, month¬ 
ly end extra edition on Sunday, holidays and others 
of importance, delivered at the door of each home; 
brings to us the news of the entire world of yesterday. 
The complex network of wires strung over our land 
like the palatial home of the spider, and the wireless 
stations bring the far North into direct communica¬ 
tion with the far South, the Atlantic with the Pacific. 
No lon,ger are the people isolated and in ignorance of 
the world’s happenings. “Westward the course of em¬ 
pire takes its way,” has been fulfilled. No longer do 
the people wait until their neighbor brings them the 
news that has been received from some other neigh¬ 
bor. No longer are the people in ignorance of the 
workings of our government. The progressive man 
and woman of today know at their morning meal all 
that happened and transpired in yesterday’s session of 
Congress. 

Our great educational institution is the founda¬ 
tion stone of the Nation. The character of our gov¬ 
ernment depends largely upon the intelligence and vir¬ 
tue of the people. The public school system and com¬ 
pulsory attendance of the children in many of the 
states have created in the great mass of the people 
these desirable qualities, viz., intelligence and virtue. 
The soundness of all our social and industrial life is 
also due to the intelligence of the people. 


6 


The Nation's Best Thought , or 


With all these great advantages, the progress of 
civilization, wealth, and that high standard of intelli¬ 
gence, with all the careful consideration, foresight and 
prayers of our time-honored forefathers, with the pro¬ 
tection of that ideal constitution and law, the people, 
the citizens of these United States, have gradually be¬ 
come separated from their form of government. The 
connecting link is missing. The good and honest pub¬ 
lic servants of the days of Washington and Jefferson 
are no more. The public officer no longer regards his 
position as a public trust, but as a private perquisite. 

The people no longer determine by ballot how 
they wish to be governed, but merely signify by which 
set of pol: ticians they wish to be ruled. Reform cries 
out from i 11 the corners of our government, local, state 
and national. The Nation should have a new birth of 
political freedom and rights which may be asserted at 
any time a: id at every necessary opportunity, in act as 
well as in words. It should have the liberty to culti¬ 
vate truth and righteousness in public affairs and un¬ 
limited rights to uphold the principles upon which our 
Government is founded. 

The annals of our Republic are full of cases show¬ 
ing the corrupt action of public officials. Men, when 
elected to office, have acted treacherously to the people 
who elected them and to the cause they were pledged 
to support; men have usurped high legislative and ju¬ 
dicial functions; men have failed to execute the law; 
men have used their office to induce other officers to 
ignore and violate the laws. When cases like these 
and the following are of every day occurence—public 
presiding officers marketing their rulings; men profit¬ 
ing secretly by their votes as lawmakers; men exposed 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 7 

in jobbery; men forcing balances in public accounts; 
men misappropriating public funds; men enriching 
their relatives and friends by percentages levied of 
the profits of contractors with their department, and 
thousands of other like abuses, wrongs and crimes—* 
the demonstration is complete. Public servants have 
become arbitrary rulers. Abuses will grow and the 
Government, instead of being carried on for the gen¬ 
eral welfare, becomes the instrumentality for imposing 
heavy burdens on the many who are governed for the 
benefit of the few who govern. 

With the above facts firmly in mind, it is evident 
that the existing conditions and evils ought to be reme¬ 
died and the disastrous consequences otherwise re¬ 
sulting therefrom prevented. 

In order to accomplish this, the people must take 
the initiative and bring about a political reformation. 
They must either punish unfaithful public servants 
by imprisonment for life or else reserve the right, 
when voting for officers, of discharging them at any 
time during their term of office and have others to fill 
their place, thus making, at all times, the public offi¬ 
cer subject to the will and wish of his constituents. 
The former plan does not seem expedient; it would 
necessitate the creation and enforsement of numerous 
laws in order to cover all the wrongs and misrepre¬ 
sentations of which public officers have been guilty. 
This, then, would be an extra burden upon the people 
and the Government. To the mind of the writer the 
latter plan appears the more plausible and effective. 
A plan or method has been carefully worked out where¬ 
by this political reform may be put into operation, a 
reform in which the people are in constant touch, in an 


8 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

. ...... *. t • - . ■ X . *•. > .• V. * * - - . 

orderly, organized way, with their Government, and 
at all times have jurisdiction over their representa¬ 
tives. In this new method men and women both have 
equal rights and privileges in government. Women 
are here placed on an equality with men, because 
woman, through her activity and co-operation in the 
promotion of purity and honesty in public affairs, in 
all the past history, has always been a strength and an 
encouragement which must be acknowledged by all. 

In order then, to obliterate official corruption in 
public affairs, to form a closer union between the peo¬ 
ple and their government, to provide an orderly way 
whereby the people may make their will and wish 
known to their Government, and the Government in 
turn may ascertain public opinion on any question, 
and to make this not alone in words but in reality a 
Government of the people, by the people and for the 
people, with equal rights to all and special privileges to 
none; the Political Council and Official Resignation 
Method is presented. 

POLITICAL COUNCIL AND OFFICIAL RESIGNA¬ 
TION METHOD. 

The Political Council is the missing link between 
the Government and its people. It is the organized 
way or means whereby the will and wish of the people 
may be made known to their representatives and vice 
versa, or in other words, harnessing public opinion 
for its utilization for the welfare of the Nation. 

The Official Resignation is the remedy for obliter¬ 
ating public corruption and misrepresentation by re- 
questig all candidates for public places to voluntarily 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 9 

tender their resignations prior to their election or ap¬ 
pointment to office, and when elected or appointed, 
serving under the same, said resignation to be in the 
hands of and under the discretion of the people. Res¬ 
ignation to read about as follows: 


July 15, 1908. 

To the Members of the Silent Voters Organization of 
the State of New York: 

I,.candidate for Gov¬ 

ernor of New York, if elected to said office, do hereby 
tender my resignation as Governor of New York, said 
resignation to take effect as soon as accepted by the 
members of the Silent Voters, at any time during my 
term of office, beginning January 4, 1909, and ending 
January 4, 1911. 


ORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE. 

In order to create the Political Council an orga¬ 
nization must be formed of the people in each voting 
precinct. Said organization shall be known as the 
Silent Voters. This organization constitutes the 
foundation stone upon which this reform rests. 
It is alike in each precinct. It is its own 
regulator. There are no divisions above or be¬ 
low it. It is strictly non-political. The Silent Voters 
originate the reform, they enforce it and all the people 
enjoy it. They constitute the Court that passes sen¬ 
tence on the misdeeds of any public servant. Their 
greatest aim is to watch over and care for the welfare 
of the Nation, seeking to do the utmost good at all 
times to the greatest number. Their object is to make 




10 


The Nation's Best Thought , or 


the rule of this Government the exact voice and wish 
of its people. 

Every American citizen, either male or female, 
over the age of twenty-one years, irrespective of po¬ 
litical party faith, may become a member of the Silent 
Voters’ organization of his or her respective voting 
precinct, by simply signing the obligation, which reads 
as follows: 

“I., do hereby declare myself a 

member of the Silent Voters of.precinct 

.County or City,. 

State, and pledge myself, upon my word of honor, 
that I will neither vote for or support a candidate who 
has not tendered his resignation to the Silent Voters 
prior to his election or appointment. I furthermore 
agree to abide by the will and wish of the majority of 
the Silent Voters and the legal results of election. 


When ten or more citizens of any ^ecinct 
have accepted the obligation they may meet and per¬ 
fect a temporary organization by electing the usual 
of all the Silent Voters of the precinct, and one 
of their number elected as the Precinct Political 
Councilman to serve for one year, who then and there 
tenders his resignation to the Silent Voters, which 
reads as follows: 

To Silent Voters of.precinct, 

.County or City,.State. 


I,.do hereby resign as Political Coun¬ 
cilman of.precinct, . 

County or City, .State. Said resigna¬ 


tion to take effect as soon as accepted by the members 
of the Silent Voters at any time during my term of 
office. 































When ten or more citizens of any precinct 
have accepted the obligation they may meet and per¬ 
fect a temporary organization by electing the usual 

officers. At the proper time a meeting shall be called 
of all the Silent Voters of the precinct, and one 
of their number elected as the Precinct Political 
Councilman to serve for one year, who then and there 
tenders his resignation to the Silent Voters, which 
reads as follows: 





Political Council and Official Resignation Method 11 

On the election of Precinct Political Councilmen, 
the Silent Voters membership list of the precinct 
is closed. No new members will be admitted un¬ 
til the next following annual Political Council election. 
The Political Councilmen serve only those who are 
members and are responsible to them only. 

ORGANIZATION DIFFERS. 

The Silent Voters organization differs from any 
other like organization. Others generally consist of 
several divisions or subdivisions, etc., as county, dis¬ 
trict, state and nation. The Silent Voters have no oth¬ 
er organization than that of the precinct. This 
constitutes the entire organization, nothing be¬ 
low or above. They meet once each year, elect one 
chairman and clerk, whose duties expire on the an¬ 
nual precinct Political Council election, thus leaving 
the precinct without officers. Should it become neces¬ 
sary to call a meeting, any member may do so, if a 
majority agree to it. The Precinct Political Council¬ 
man may act as chairman for such meeting. 

POLITICAL COUNCIL ORGANIZATION. 

County Organization—At an appointed time, the 
various Precinct Political Councilmen of a county, who 
have duly signed “Certificates of Membership,” may 
meet and elect a Silent Voter as the County Political 
Councilman, to serve for the term of one. He serves 
under resignation the same as the Precinct Political 
Councilman, to serve for the term of one year. He 
serves under resignation the same as the Precinct Po¬ 
litical Councilman, but subject to the discretion of the 


i2 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

Precinct Political Councilmen of the county. The 
County Political Councilman is only accountable to the 
Precinct Councilmen. 

State Organization—At an appointed time the va¬ 
rious County Political Councilmen of the state, who 
have duly signed “County Certificates of Membership,” 
meet and elect a Silent Voter as the State Political 
Councilman, to serve for the term of one year. He 
tenders his resignation to the County Political Coun¬ 
cilmen, who hold the same. The State Political Coun¬ 
cilman is accountable to the County Political Council- 
men. 

National Organization—At an appointed time 
the various State Political Councilmen, who have duly 
signed “State Certificates of Membership,” meet and 
elect a Silent Voter as the National Political Council¬ 
man, to serve for the term of one year. He tenders 
his resignation to the State Political Councilmen, in 
whose hands it remains. The National Political Coun¬ 
cilman is only accountable to the State Political Coun¬ 
cilmen. 

City Organization—The various Precinct Political 
Councilmen of the city meet at an appointed time and 
elect, to serve for one year, a silent Voter of the city, 
as the City Political Councilman. His resignation is 
held by the Precinct Political Councilmen, and to 
whom he is accountable. 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 13 

GENERAL DUTIES OF POLITICAL COUNCILMEN 

It shall be the duty of the various Political Coun- 
cilmen, each in his respective jurisdiction, Precinct 
Political Councilman in precinct, County Political 
Councilman in county, State Political Councilman in 
the state, National Political Councilman in the Na¬ 
tion, and City Political Councilman in the city, to so¬ 
licit the resignation of all candidates, irrespective of 
political party faith, prior to their election or appoint- # 
ment. After all candidates have had ample opportu¬ 
nity to voluntarily tender or refuse their resignation, 
the Political Councilmen shall then proceed, a suffi¬ 
cient length of time prior to the date set by law for 
an election, to prepare a list of all candidates having 
tendered their resignations, and forward said list to 
the Silent Voters in the following manner: National 
Political Councilman shall forward the list of all na¬ 
tional candidates having tendered their resignations 
to all the various State Political Councilmen. The 
State Political Councilman shall then forward the list 
of all state and various district candidates having ten¬ 
dered their resignations, together with the list re¬ 
ceived from the National Political Councilman, to all 
the various County Political Councilmen of the state. 
The County Political Councilman shall then forward 
the list of all the county candidates having tendered 
their resignations, together with the list received from 
the State Political Councilman, to each of the precinct 
Political Councilmen of the county. The Precinct Po¬ 
litical Councilman shall then make the list known, for 
the benefit of the Silent Voters. 

After election, when the successful candidates are 


14 The Nation's Best Thought , or 

known, the various Political Councilmen, each in his 
own respective jurisdiction, shall file the resignations 
of all the successful candidates at some suitable place 
for safe keeping, or as directed by the Silent Voters. 

It shall further be the duty of all the Political 
Councilmen to attend meetings, each in his own respec¬ 
tive jurisdiction. Precinct Political Councilmen 
attend Silent Voters meeting and county meeting; 
County Political Councilmen, county meeting and state 
meeting; State Political Councilmen, state meeting 
and national meeting, and National Political Council¬ 
man attend only the national meeting. 

Each Councilman shall keep a record of the trans¬ 
actions of his office. 

It shall be the duty of the Political Councilmen 
to report any corrupt official of their jurisdictions to 
the Silent Voters. Should a majority of the Silent 
Voters be in favor of accepting said official’s resigna¬ 
tion, he shall then sign and file said officer’s resigna¬ 
tion at the proper place designated by law and notify 
him of the acceptance. 

The Political Councilman shall deal exclusively 
with the majority of opinion. In reporting he shall 
give the number as shown on his certificate of mem¬ 
bership. For instance: If a precinct has a Silent 
Voter membership of one hundred and a certificate 
for that number, and on a question they stand forty 
for, thirty-five against and twenty-five disinterested, 
the Councilman then reports one hundred votes for. 
The County Political Councilman shall then determine 
from the reports of the various Political Councilmen, 
if a majority is in sight. If so, he reports the -whole 
number of members as indicated on the county certifi- 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 15 

cate of membership. In the same way the State Po¬ 
litical Councilman reports to the National Political 
Councilman. 

All opinions expressed by the people must either 
be for or against a certain desire. All information de¬ 
sired by public offcers must be so stated that they can 
be answered by yes or no, for or against. Only one 
question at a time is handled by the Councilmen. If 
questions are submitted to the people in which the 
largest number are disinterested, the Precinct Coun¬ 
cilman reports “Silent.” 

SPECIFIC DUTIES OF POLITICAL COUNCILMEN 

Precinct Political Councilman—The Precinct Po¬ 
litical Councilman shall keep himself thoroughly 
posted on all national, state, county and precinct af¬ 
fairs. It is his duty to ascertain the will and wish 
of the Silent Voters of his precinct on all the important 
public questions, and on others he deems necessary, 
said information may be obtained by mail, wire, per¬ 
sonal interview, or as he deems best. In this manner 
the Silent Voters will lose but little time from their 
vocation. 

He should keep a careful and watchful eye on all 
public affairs, and if they are not conducted as he 
knows the people desire them to be, he then shall re¬ 
port said fact to Silent Voters for instructions. It is 
his duty to immediately answer, if known, or else as¬ 
certain, all questions pertaining to the will and wish 
of the people, coming from the County Political Coun¬ 
cilman. 

County Political Councilman—He shall keep him- 


16 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

self informed upon all public affairs, especially on 
those of his immediate jurisdiction. He should know 
the public opinion of his county on many of the im¬ 
portant questions of the day. He shall determine the 
majority opinion of his county when questions are 
submitted for answer from the reports of the various 
Precinct Political Councilmen. He shall immediately 
forward all questions or answers that may come from 
the Precinct Political Councilmen to the State Political 
Councilman, or vice versa. 

State Political Councilman—He shall observe and 
be informed on all public questions, and more especi¬ 
ally on state affairs. He shall pay close attention to 
the State Legislature. It shall be his duty, when called 
upon, to ascertain the public opinion on any question, 
for any state officer having a discretionary or legisla¬ 
tive power. He shall determine the majority opinion 
of his state, either on answers or desires from the re¬ 
ports of the County Political Councilmen. If a ma¬ 
jority is already in sight, the answer should be sent 
immediately to the inquirer. 

National Political Councilman—He shall keep 
himself informed on all national affairs and especially 
the proceedings of Congress. He shall carefully study 
all bills that are introduced, and especially those pos¬ 
sible of becoming a law. He should be in a position 
to give information on any of the bills or any clause 
thereof. It shall be his duty, when 'Called upon to do 
so, to ascertain for any United States Senator, Con¬ 
gressman or national officer haying a discretionary 
power, the public opinion on any bill or parts thereof, 
or on any important question of national interest. He 
shall also inform the Senators or Congressmen of the 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 17 

will and wish ofthe Silent Voters. He shall inform 
the Silent Voters on any national affair, when called 
upon to do so. He shall determine the majority opin¬ 
ion of the nation from the reports of the State Politi¬ 
cal Councilmen. 

City Political Councilman—He shall prepare a list 
in city elections of all candidates having tendered their 
resignations and forward same to the various City 
Precinct Political Councilmen, who then forward said 
list to the Silent Voters. He shall attend to the affairs 
of the city in which the city is interested. He shall 
watch over city officials for the welfare of the people. 
He may submit questions to the Silent Voters when 
called upon to do so by the city officials, and also in- 
form_them of the will and wish of the people. 

HOW WILL AND WISH ARE EXPRESSED. 

Thus far we have explained the Political Council 
and enumerated the most important duties, all of 
which are subject to change by the Silent Voters. Let 
us now see how the will and wish of the people may 
be expressed. 

For instance, a certain precinct is very desirous 
of having a national bill become a law. The Precinct 
Political Councilman, being one of the Silent 
Voters and in close touch with them, knows or else is 
informed of the desire; he immediately forwards this 
desire or wish to his County Political Councilman. The 
County Political Councilman then submits the desire 
back to the rest of the Precinct Political Councilmen 
of the county, in case they have not already expressed 
their opinion, and when the reports are in he deter- 


18 The Nation's Best Thought , or 

mines if a majority of the county also favor said de¬ 
sire. If they do, he then forwards the desire to the 
State Political Councilman, who proceeds as the 
County Political Councilman did, to ascertain the state 
opinion. When secured, he forwards said opinion to 
the National Political Councilman, reporting each con¬ 
gressional district separately, and also the state at 
large, who then reports said opinion to the respective 
Representatives and Senators. In case the question 
or bill pertains only to the state, it stops with the 
State Political Councilman, who then takes it to the 
_proper person or persons. 

We see by this that there is a direct connection 
between the people and their government, and an or¬ 
derly way whereby they may express their opinion to 
the Government collectively on any bill having been 
introduced. If any Congressman or Senator is in 
doubt as to the opinion on a certain bill and how his 
'constituents wish him to vote, he goes to the National 
Political Councilman and gives him the question to 
■ ascertain. The National Political Councilman then 
immediately submits the question to the respective 
State Political Councilmen, who in turn submit it to 
"«all the County Political Councilmen, or just to those 
of the congressional district concerned. The County 
Political Councilmen then submit it to the Precinct 
Political Councilmen, and they in turn submit it to the 
people, secure their answer and send it back to the 
National Political Councilman by the way of County 
and State Political Councilmen. The National Politi¬ 
cal Councilman then gives the answer to the Congress¬ 
man or Senator. 

It works the same way in state affairs. If a legis- 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 19 

lator desires the will and wish of his constituents he 
informs the State Political Councilman of his desire, 
who immediately forwards the question only to those 
counties in which the legislator has his constituents. 
In this manner the opinion of the people of only a 
portion of the state may be obtained without submit¬ 
ting the question to all the Silent Voters of the state. 
It works the same way in cities. 

NO NEW LAWS NECESSARY. 

No new laws are necessary or are advocated; the 
people are already clad in the sacred right and duty 
to vote and give their consent by ballot to be governed. 
In other words a candidate for an elective office must 
have the consent by allot of the voters before he can 
secure the public office. If the people withhold their 
votes, no officer can be elected. If the consent of the 
people is necessary, it must be conceded that they have 
also the ri,ght to stipulate the conditions under which 
they are willing to give their consent. The voluntary 
resignation of the officer is just as binding on him as 
the voluntary consent by ballot of the voters, given to 
him on election. 

The resignation method, in the light of the Con¬ 
stitution of the United States, read in the sense of the 
Declaration of Independence, is just and legal and, if 
properly drawn, will stand in any court of the land. 
Why should our public servants have the right to re¬ 
sign whenever they desire to do so, and the people 
have no right to discharge them when they so desire? 
There is no reason whatever. The people should be 
able to quit an office by accepting his resignation just 
as well as an officer can quit the people. They should 


20 


The Nation’s Best Thought , or 


at all times be on an equality with their servants. 

The public officers of today have the right, and 
may use it, to resign whenever they so desire. Under 
this method the candidate aspiring to public office vol¬ 
untarily tenders his resignation while yet a candidate 
and accepts therein the stipulated conditions laidsdown 
by the Silent Voters. The Silent Voters have the right 
to accept and hold such resignation until they deem 
it necessary to make use of it. On the other hand, a 
candidate has a perfect right to refuse to fender his 
resignation. The Silent Voters will not in the least 
have one objection to the candidate’s action, but they 
will have good cause not to support said candidate, 
no matter what political party he may belong to. They 
can be certain that the conscience of the candidate is 
not clear; he lacks confidence in the people, and natu¬ 
rally they would have no confidence in him on election 
day. In all probability no candidate would ever be 
elected to office who has not shown that confidence in 
the people by being willing to serve under resignation, 
which is held in their hands, subject to their will and 
wish. And further, no candidate who is elected to 
office, who has voluntarily tendered his resignation, 
would go into open court and fight his own resignation. 
It would be a disgrace to himself and his political party 
friends and those who voted for him on election day. 
There is no danger of him doing that. 




Political Council and Official Resignation Method 21 

GOVERNMENT A BUSINESS PROPOSITION. 

It is a well known fact throughout the business 
world that the employer has the right to discharge or 
ask to resign any person in his employ. That this is 
the ur iversal and common sense business principle is 
conceded by all. In fact, business methods are ap¬ 
plied to everything pertaining to the supplying of the 
necessaries and even luxuries of life. Government, 
then, itself, is a business proposition. There is, then, 
no weh founded reason why our Government should 
not be conducted on this great business principle, es¬ 
pecially when it can be applied without the change of 
a single letter of law. The effort put forth by the peo¬ 
ple in instituting this method will more than be repaid 
by the good it will bear. 

SAFETY OF POLITICAL COUNCIL AND OFFI¬ 
CIAL RESIGNATION. 







^ wjB—r 






4 



















f olitical Council and Official Resignation Method 21 

iFETY OF POLITICAL COUNCIL AND OFFI¬ 
CIAL RESIGNATION. 

It is a well known fact throughout the business 
a? jrld that the employer has the right to discharge or 
ik to resign any person in his employ. That this is 
r Uie universal and common sense business principle is 
conceded by all. In fact, business methods are ap¬ 
plied to everything pertaining to the supplying of the 
ecessaries and even luxuries of life. Government, 

T 

ien, itself, is a business proposition. There is, then, 
n well founded reason why our Government should 
't be conducted on this great business principle, es- 
a icially when it can be applied without the change of 
Pk single letter of law. The effort put forth by the peo- 
k e in instituting this method will more than be repaid 
y the good it will bear. 

GOVERNMENT A BUSINESS PROPOSITION. 

The safety of the Political Council and official res¬ 
ignation method lies in the nature of the Silent Voters 
organization. They are organized in the smallest sub¬ 
division of our Government, each separately with a 
voice only in the precinct, no organization above 
or below them, the Political Council merely their 
agents, and in absolute control, without a vote of 
any kind, only serving as directed. They are engaged 
in all the various walks of life, of many religious views 
and different political beliefs. They become a re¬ 
straint to one another, and the strongest and most last¬ 
ing restraint that was ever set a people is the restraint 
that they themselves set on one another. Herein lies 
the safety. Being separated in the various precincts 


22 The Nation's Best Thought , or 

throughout the United States, nothing can be brought 
to the surface by themselves unless it appeals to com¬ 
mon sense and justice, doing the greatest good to the 
greatest number. 

OBLIGATION OF SILENT VOTERS. 

First. In the obligation the Silent Voters agree 
not to support a candidate who has not tendered his 
resignation. Should all party candidates tender their 
resignations to the Silent Voters, they then support 
or vote for whom they please. They do not put out 
candidates for office, neither do they, as a body, advo¬ 
cate political party principles, only as members of the 
different parties. They rely upon the existing political 
parties to furnish them with party principles and 
party candidates. They accept the results of election 
and make the best of it. 

The political complexion of the Silent Voters as a 
body will be at all times the same as the political com¬ 
plexion of the political party that is delegated to power. 

Second. The question suggests itself of how the 
Silent Voters’ obligation will affect the successful par¬ 
ty after election. In the obligation they agree to abide 
by the majority, wherever that may be, among them¬ 
selves or at any election. For instance, if the majority 
of the voters, on election day, delegated the Republican 
party to power in a state, and the majority of the Si¬ 
lent Voters were Democratic, that would make no dif¬ 
ference. Should the state go Republican and part of 
the counties Democratic, that would also have no ef¬ 
fect. The Silent Voters could not change it if they 
wanted to, nor is there any advantage in changing. 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 23 

They are separated in the various voting precincts 
following their various occupations, with a voice 
only in the precinct in which they reside. So it 
would be impossible to change the results of an elec¬ 
tion on point of party principles or policies. Just as 
an elected officer of today is the officer of all the peo¬ 
ple, both Democrats and Republicans, etc., so are the 
victorious political parties accepted by the Silent 
Voters. The political party delegated to power will 
run its outlined course. Even if an officer’s resigna¬ 
tion would be accepted and discharged, the officer to 
fill the vacancy would always be from the same politi¬ 
cal party that was delegated to power. The people, af¬ 
ter election, will have nothing to consider except the 
welfare of all. Careful investigation has convinced us 
that the people of the present day are not as party 
blind and not as full of party hatred as our party poli¬ 
ticians would have us believe they are. Four-fifths of 
the people of any political party are unselfish and fair 
minded. The welfare of the local, state and national 
government, in which they are deeply iterested, would 
be of a great deal more importance to them than the 
welfare of any political party or its set of candidates. 
It is an error to believe that Democrats or other 
political parties can not live and prosper where Re¬ 
publicans or some other party lives and prospers. The 
four-fifths of the various political parties, who are in¬ 
dependent and unselfish enough to be absolutely just 
and fair, will always be in the majority in every pre¬ 
cinct, and the one-fifth, which is narrow minded and 
selfish, will always be hopelessly in the minority. 

Political party cranks would not alter or affect 
the welfare of the people in the least. Nor could they 


24 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

become burdensome to the public officers. As long as 
the officer performed his lawful duty, the people would 
not desire to make a change just on account of the 
crank. 

It should be remembered that in the new method 
there are no standing investigating boards. Dissatis¬ 
fied party politicians or anybody else could not cause 
a disturbance or work up a conspiracy against any 
public officer with the object of having him removed. 
If any person should happen to feel wronged by a 
judge, prosecuting attorney or any other public offi¬ 
cer, and go to the Political Councilman and make a 
complaint, they would not accomplish anything, as the 
Political Councilmen deal exclusively with the major¬ 
ity public opinion. There is only one way to proceed, 
and that is to go to the Silent Voters with their com¬ 
plaints, and if they convince a majority that they were 
really wronged, the matter is then taken up by the Po¬ 
litical Councilman. If a minority opinion is just and 
right it will soon grow into a majority, but not until 
it does will anything be accomplished. 

INFLUENCE OF WOMEN MEMBERS. 

With the presence of women as members of the 
Silent Voters, with their voices and influence, the Si¬ 
lent Voters will have additional strength. They do 
not lean as much toward political parties nor to party 
principles, neither are they as party prejudiced and 
blind as men are. Their power and influence will go 
with the independent men and public officers, especi¬ 
ally if public purity or public opinion is at stake. Their 
voice as members of the Silent Voters organization is 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 25 

bound to have a healthy effect on all public affairs, for 
the good of all the people. The fact that the women as 
a whole do not as yet cast a ballot on election day has 
also a tendency to strengthen the Silent Voters orga¬ 
nization rather than weaken it. 

It is a recognized fact that the women are the 
successful managers and rulers of the American home. 
The American home is the bulwark of the nation. When 
the home is safe, the nation is also safe. The success¬ 
ful party will have nothing to fear from the Silent 
Voters because women are members. The independent 
man or woman of the Silent Voters would cause no 
political disturbance, for their highest aim would be 
purity and honesty in public affairs, doing the greatest 
good to the greatest number. 

NOT BURDENSOME TO FAITHFUL OFFICERS. 

f 

The Silent Voters do not impose upon any of the 
functions or duties of public officers. They have no 
right to, nor is there any need, that they draft their 
own laws, or even frame them. Wherever a law en¬ 
acting body has been in session in this country there 
have always been plenty of good bills introduced which 
contained all the wishes of all the people. This coun¬ 
try has never suffered for the lack of plenty of good 
bills. The Silent Voters select only from the intro¬ 
duced bills and then make their will and wish known 
to their representatives. This will immediately give 
confidence to the author of the bill. All the present 
day guesswork of whether the people want it or not 
will be done away with. When the author speaks, 
those who listen will know that he speaks direct from 


26 The Nation’s Best Thought , or 

the people and directly for them. He becomes a power 
that the Legislature dare not ignore. If any member 
seeks to destroy the object or intent of the bill, or make 
it ineffective by amendments, he is in a position to pre¬ 
vent it, by reporting the same to the people through 
their agents, the Political Council. He knows that the 
Silent Voters are such a power that if they deem it 
necessary they could send any member home who was 

trying to ignore the will and wish of the people. 

The Silent Voters will take up the bill that con¬ 
tains their will and wish, and then demand of their 
representatives to support said bill. This is a right 
that the people have always had under our form of 
government, but never exercised. The time is at hand 
when this right must be used; the welfare of the peo¬ 
ple is of too much importance, just merely to rely upon 
the promises of candidates. Enough unredeemed 
promises have already been made to last forever. No 
more are wanted, all that is desired is to have the 
candidate’s resignation before the votes are cast. It is 
the duty of the people to relieve the officers of the old 
system of doing t _eir work on the hit or miss plan. 
The people are doing themselves, as well as their hon¬ 
est servants, an injustice by continuing under the 
present system, and not adopting a new one. 

KEY TO OFFICIAL HONESTY. 

Under the new method the political parties are re¬ 
lied upon to furnish the party principles and -candi¬ 
dates. All are treated alike, and their resignations re¬ 
quested. If the candidates have all tendered their 
resignations to the Silent Voters, the question of 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 27 

whether the candidates or political parties are honest 
or dishonest ceases to be a question. The responsi¬ 
bility falls largely upon the members of the Silent Vot¬ 
ers, in whose hands and under whose judgment rest 
the resignation of the candidates. This is the key to 
official honesty. 

It does not make a particle of difference as to 
whether the candidates are honest or dishonest, 
whether they are nominated under the primary system 
or in open convention, or whether they got their nomi¬ 
nation in a straightforward manner or stole it. It 
matters not whether candidates have led honest or 
dishonest lives in the past; that is their business. But 
as public officers it is the people’s business how they 
behave. It does not affect the Silent Voters so long 
as the candidate has tendered his resignation. And 
if a candidate has flatly refused to tender his resigna¬ 
tion nothing is to be feared, his chances for office are 
not worth mentioning. 

As soon as an official takes the oath of office he is 
that very minute subject to the people. If he practices 
dishonesty, the Silent Voters accept his resignation, 
and Mr. Officer is out. Under the new method men 
must be honest; they must carry out the pledges upon 
which they were elected if they intend to serve the 
pople; they must follow closely the law and work to¬ 
wards the best interests of the masses of the people. 

The political campaign will be elevated by the new 
method to a higher plane. Campaign money will 
cease to flow in abundance. Indecency will be turned 
into decency. The truth will supplant the lie. Can¬ 
didates will have no object in denouncing their oppo¬ 
nents, as all of them would then look alike to the 


28 The Nation's Best Thought , or 

Silent Voters, and when elected to office must give sat¬ 
isfaction. The campaign will be conducted on a level 
to that of the intelligence and virtue of the people. 

ELECTING A SENATOR. 

The new method does not impose upon the duties 
or rights of the State Legislatures. It simplifies and 
lessens their duty and responsibility and assists them 
in performing their full duties as Representatives. Let 
us see how the new method would affect a State Legis¬ 
lature in electing a United States Senator. The Leg¬ 
islature proceeds as usual, and as soon as candidates 
announce themselves the State Political Councilman 

is on hand to solicit their resignations. The State 

•* 

Political Councilman will, then, at the proper time, 
inform the Legislature of all those candidates having 
tendered their resignations. Should it occur that a 
candidate refuses to tender his resignation when called 
upon to do so, he is either dishonest at heart or else is 
planning to be dishonest, and above all, he has not that 
confidence in the people which all public officers should 
have. The Legislature has, then, a well founded rea¬ 
son for not supporting or electing such a candidate. 
Should it happen, however, that a member of the Leg¬ 
islature should favor or support a candidate who had 
refused to tender his resignation, thereby showing 
that he was ignoring the will and wish of the Silent 
Voters, and tramping on the good intentions of those 
candidates having tendered their resignations, the 
State Political Councilman would report said fact to 
the Legislator’s constituents who, if holding his resig¬ 
nation, could, without further ceremony, accept it. 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 29 

Thus it can be seen that the Legislature is just as free 
to choose a Senator under the new method as now, the 
only difference being that they choose one who has 
tendered his resignation. 

It also makes no difference to the Silent Voters 
what political party is in power; how many candidates, 
one or fifty; if the candidate is many times a million¬ 
aire or a day laborer, a pious Sunday School Superin¬ 
tendent or a heartless corporation. lawyer. All the 
Silent Voters desire is that of having the candidate's 
resignation, so that if he proves to be treacherous to 
the people and neglects to do his duty, he may be dis¬ 
charged. They also desire to reserve the right to ex¬ 
press thejr will and wish to him through their agents, 
and also give him the privilege of ascertaining their 
opinion on any doubtful question. 

In case a United States Senator resigns or has his 
resignation accepted, or if he dies, the office becomes 
vacant. It then becomes the duty of the chief execu¬ 
tive of the state affected to appoint another. 
Here again the new method comes in and as¬ 
sists the Governor. The State Political Coun¬ 
cilman is on hand as soon as candidates an¬ 
nounce themselves, and requests their resigna¬ 
tions. The Councilman then reports to the Gov¬ 
ernor all those candidates who have tendered their 
resignations. The Governor can then proceed to ap¬ 
point whomsoever he pleases, so long as it is from the 
list of candidates having tendered their resignations. 
His rights are not imposed upon, nor is the new meth¬ 
od burdensome or annoying to him. It is, in fact, a 
help to him; it relieves him of a great deal of respon¬ 
sibility. 


30 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

Should, however, the Governor wilfully and ma¬ 
liciously ignore the people’s will and wish, together 
with the good intentions of those candidates who did 
offer to do their full duty under resignation, and ap¬ 
point one who refused to serve under resignation, it 
would be reported to the people. The people, holding 
the Governor’s resignation, could discharge him and 
notify the Lieutenant Governor of the vacancy. In 
all probability it may never become necessary for the 
people of a state to accept the resignation of their Gov¬ 
ernor. It must be borne in mind that the Governor of 
a state is not wilfully hostile to the best interests of 
the people, especially when they hold his resignation. 

POPULAR VOTE NOT THE REMEDY. 

It has been advocated that the Constitution of the 
United States be so amended as to have United States 
Senators elected by popular vote. Three reasons are 
generally given: 

First. The Senate is separated too far from the 
common people. 

Second. It does not represent the common people. 

Third. It is dishonest; it uses the rights of the 
common people for special privileges. 

From these reasons we might infer the Constitu¬ 
tion ought to be changed because they are not elected 
directly by the people, and that it is this that gives rise 
to the three objections. Then according to this the 
more directly on officer is elected by the people the 
more honest he ought to be. According to that, 
then, our local or state officers ought to be a great deal 
better than the Senators. Judging from the public 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 31 

r 

press, there is far more dishonesty practiced in 
state governments than in the United States 
Senate. The press continues to point out the misrep¬ 
resentation and trampling under foot of the common 
people’s rights in local and state affairs. The thieving 
and grafting and dishonesty of all kinds practiced in 
county and state is many times more to what one hears 
about the Senate. Popular vote does not make men 
honest. It would not improve the United States Sen¬ 
ate. Let the people hold the resignation of the Sena¬ 
tors and there will be no need of changing the Consti¬ 
tution. They will then be forced to represent the peo¬ 
ple honestly. 


APPOINTMENTS. 

Under our form of government there are a large 
number of appointed officers. This in itself is not a 
weakness of the Government; the evil comes in that 
advantage is taken of the places by men occupying the 
same. The appointed officers themselves are not re¬ 
sponsible for the evil. The party politicians and party 
bosses are the ones that corrupt the appointed posi¬ 
tions. Long before an election takes place, or even a 
campaign is begun, the politicians and “wire pullers” 
form combinations and political rings. They use the 
appointed officers as a personal asset. The best 
schemers build the highest fences and strongest cliques. 
There are always plenty of hungry office seekers and 
they are anxious to get in on the ground floor. They 
care nothing for the people and the welfare of the 
Government. All they want is the appointment. In 
schemes and rings of this kind the man that can han- 


32 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

die the greatest number of voters within the party is 
taken in by the bosses. Personal honesty and official 
qualification counts for nothing. Is he a “vote getter?” 
is the question. These appointments are generally 
made on the plan of “I tickle you and you tickle me,” 
which is not to the best interest of the people. The 
writer knows no reason why this should be tolerated 
any longer. 

As soon as a party has been delegated to power 
the office seeker goes to the elected officer who has the 
appointments to make by law, and applies for a posi¬ 
tion. He comes with a strong endorsement of the party 
bosses and professional wire pullers, whose influence 
he brings to bear upon the officer. The officer has no 
recourse; he recognizes the part played by the bosses, 
wire pullers and others in his own election. He is 
helpless; he cannot choose whom he likes; he is forced 
to appoint these hungry office seekers. Many times it 
happens that there are several applicants for the same 
office. Then there is a family quarrel. These appli¬ 
cants file charges and counter charges against each 
other, until all are proved scoundrels, reprobates and 
who knows what all. 

For instance, the President of the United States, 
according to law, has a large number of places to fill 
with appointed men. In many cases he knows nothing 
about the wishes of the people whom these appointed 
officers are to serve. At the very best he can only 
make a guess. He has nothing to guide him except the 
advice of some untrustworthy wire puller, who has no 
interest at heart than himself and those of his kind. 
Is it not a fact, or ought it not to be a fact, that these 
small “wire pulling” affairs should be below the dig- 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 33 

nity of our President? It certainly must be annoying 
to him, at least. 

The new method will do away with all these ob¬ 
stacles and irregularities in appointed offices. As soon 
as an office seeker makes his appearance the National 
Political Councilman, if the office is to be filled by the 
President, if directed to do so by the Silent Voters, 
may be on hand with resignation blanks for all to sign* 
Those tendering their resignations will be made known 
to the President, who may then appoint whom he likes 
of the list. Should there be any charges pending" 
against any of the applicants, he may refer the whole 
matter to the Political Councilman for a people’s 
choice. It makes no difference from what state they 
come, the Political Council in their respective jurisdic¬ 
tions would thresh all candidates down to a people’s 
choice, and forward same to the President. Thus we 
see the President has been relieved of a great deal of 
trouble and responsibility. It works the same way 
with any other officers who have appointments to 
make. 

The political party bosses and their influence have 
been, for instance, a ruling factor in the appointment 
of men to serve as judges on the bench. Men seeking 
these appointments very often have no other qualifica¬ 
tion than that of strong political graft and a good en¬ 
dorsement of men who desire them to be out of their 
way politically. To this, many of the evils in our 
courts, presided over by these appointed officers of the 
present day, can be traced. In places of such great 
importance men should not seek the office, but the of¬ 
fice seek the man. There is no reason why laws should 
not be read and understood in the same light as the 


34 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

lawmakers meant them to be, and the people under¬ 
stood they were. Laws are not made on the spur of 
the moment, without due deliberation, discussions and 
explanations thereon. The people, through the press, 
learn for what the law was enacted and how it was 
meant to be interpreted. Nevertheless, the intent and 
object of a law has been cast aside and even ignored 
by some of these appointed judges, who are responsi¬ 
ble in a way to none, and more especially if the judge 
should happen to be one of the ex-political “wire pull¬ 
ers.” It has only been too often that justice in court 
lias been the exception and not the rule. 

When a federal judge does not interpret the ob¬ 
ject and intent of a law the same as the people, the 
press that explained it, the body of men that enacted 
it, and the chief executive that signed it, it is high 
Time to call that judge to a halt. Such a judge should 
not be tolerated on the bench, but should be discharged. 
There are many high minded, honorable and well 
qualified men in this land who should be given the po¬ 
sition instead of these dishonest men. 

The fact is appreciated that the trouble does not 
always lie with the judges. There have been judges 
who have called the people’s attention time and again 
to the fact that the law does not permit the court suffi¬ 
cient freedom to do justice. The technical, narrow 
terms used in the framing of the law places the court 
in a helpless position to do justice, and the decision is 
nothing more nor less than a legalized lawlessness, or 
in other words an empty court mockery. This is a 
fault of the lawmakers themselves. 

The new method will obliterate all these difficul¬ 
ties and faults in the judicial department. After it 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 35 

has been established and the judges serve under resig¬ 
nation as any other officer, they will then no longer 
dare to construe a law so as to miss the object and in¬ 
tent, same as was intended by the lawmakers and un¬ 
derstood by the people. A closer union will be brought 
about between the people and this most important de¬ 
partment of our Government. The courts’ highest aim 
will be to do justice to the greatest masses of the 
people, slighting none. The Government, as well as 
the people, will then be protected. 

In course oftime, when the good results of the new 
method have been felt and thoroughly demonstrated, 
it is the writer’s belief that all the appointments 
deemed necessary by the people will pass into their 
hands, even to that of the position of a country post¬ 
master. 


APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE. 

All men and women who are patriotic, who have 
not lost faith in the masses of the people, who believe 
in the people’s honesty and justice, who believe in a 
government of the people, by the people and for the 
people, who believe that the people have advanced and 
are steadily advancing in Christianity and civilization, 
who believe the old political system has been outlived, 
who believe in the ability of the people to progress, 
who believe that the people are capable of self gov¬ 
ernment and who believe in the four great rights of the 
people, as exemplified in the new method, viz.: First, 
to express their will and wish at any time to their rep¬ 
resentatives; second, right of the representatives to 
consult their constituents at any time; third, right of 


36 The Nation’s Best Thought, or 

the people to be the ruling factor on appointments, and 
fourth, the right of the people to discharge any officer 
who fails to do his duty, by accepting his resignation, 
all being accomplished through an orderly way, are 
hereby invited to carefully study the new method, and 
weigh all points in favor of it and those opposed to it. 
If in favor, then join or organize a Silent Voters orga- 
nivation in your respective voting precincts. Let us, 
for the love of our country and justice to ourselves, 
put the new method into operation. Give it a fair trial. 
If established, public conscience will become a strength 
in public affairs for the good of all. It will restore re¬ 
spect for the inherited rights and doctrine of self 
government. Duty must precede right. Sow first, 
then reap. The efforts and sacrifices which it does re¬ 
quire are small compared to the rewards which one 
will reap. United action is a necessity. The Silent 
Voters ought to be organized alike, strike together and 
hit the same spot. No man or woman should hesitate 
to become a member of the Silent Voters organization. 

MAKE USE OF IT. 

All aspirants for some public office are hereby in¬ 
vited to voluntarily tender their resignations to the 
people, and cause said fact to be made known. Even 
officers wffiose terms do not expire for some time and 
who have faith in their constituents, are also welcome 
to make us of the new method. Also all the political 
chairmen of the various political parties in county, 
state and nation, irrespective of political party faith, 
are invited to make use of the new method. Assist 
the people in organizing Silent Voters organizations* 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 37 

The people will certainly appreciate your friendship 
and you will thus add strength to yourself and party. 

Should those who aspire to public office and pub¬ 
lic favor be in doubt as to whether the people will or 
will not approve and adopt the new method, the writer 
suggests that a test be made of it in a practical way. 
It will cost you nothing, nor do you harm, and if the 
new method becomes a success it will stand to your 
credit forever. Announce yourself as a candidate and 
accept the four people’s rights brought out in the new 
method, and declare publicly that you are willing 1 to 
serve under resignation if elected, and that you are 
ready to tender your resignation and place it in the 
hands of the Silent Voters Political Council as soon as 
they are ready to receive it. Explain to the people 
that you are perfectly willing for them to accept your 
resignation at any time that you fail to do your full 
public duty entirely to their satisfaction. Then watch 
results. You will certainly not lose any votes; the peo¬ 
ple will form a better opinion of you and will speak 
better of you and become interested in your political 
success. 

Should your opponents refuse to tender their res¬ 
ignations and oppose the new method, and thereby 
make an unquestionable impression on the people, 
simply let them alone, it is in your favor. Let your 
opponent take the old political road, let him make all 
sorts of promises and pledges, let them accuse you and 
“throw mud” at you in the old fashioned way. Do 
not strike back at them, but simply deal with the peo¬ 
ple and rely upon their intelligence. Show your op¬ 
ponent up in the light of one having no confidence in 
the people, on account of having refused to tender his 


38 


The Nation's Best Thought , or 


resignation. Point to your resignation and show them 
that if you are elected they are master all the time, 
but if your opponent is elected they become the ser¬ 
vants on election day. Tell them that if you fail to do 
your duty entirely to their satisfaction you are most 
willing to step down and out. The people can readily 
judge between two candidates if one offers to serve 
under resignation during his term of office, if elected, 
and is willing to place said resignation in their hands, 
and one who has refused to do so; as to who is their 
genuine friend and representative. Do not fear as to 
your opponent; the people will take care of you on 
election day. 

It makes no difference to what political party one 
belongs or in what county or state one resides. Do 
not argue politics, as is the custom of the present sys¬ 
tem, but go right ahead, making yourself useful by 
helping the people to organize Silent Voters organiza¬ 
tions. Point out to the people that this is a represen¬ 
tative form of government, and that the people have a 
just right to be honestly and justly represented by 
their public servants. 

Should your political opponent also tender his 
resignation, then see to it that you were first, and 
looked upon as having set your opponent a good exam¬ 
ple. It certainly will stand to your credit and do you 
good, besides winning the gratitude of the people. Do 
not fail to take advantage of this opportunity. Help 
the people to organize and they will help you. Write 
to temporary Silent Voters headquarters for necessary 
blanks, etc., which will be sent to you free of charge. 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 39 

INFORM THE PEOPLE. 

The Silent Voters who are the first to organize 
should meet from time to time for the purpose of fully 
acquainting the people with the new method and also 
to increase the membership. Local papers should be 
kept informed of the meetings and of what was accom¬ 
plished. The new method should be taught to the peo¬ 
ple. There are two sides to it, one the right and the 
other the wrong. If the new method is right and just 
and effective, it certainly is the peopled duty to accept 
it by joining the Silent Voters. If it is wrong, unjust 
and ineffective, they should oppose it, but it has been 
proven that it is not wrong, unjust or ineffective, and 
what is more, it is at least as good as the old political 
system. A trial should certainly be given it. To the 
mind of the writer there can only be two classes of 
people in regard to the new method, those who favor 
it and those who oppose it. 

All those who favor honesty, purity and upright¬ 
ness in public affairs; who believe in the people exer¬ 
cising the four rights of the new method, viz.: First, 
to make their will and wish known to their representa¬ 
tives; second, representatives may consult the people; 
third, people ruling factor on appointments, and 
fourth, the people’s right to discharge public officials, 
are in favor of the new method, and those who are in 
favor ofthe old political system, ruled by party bosses, 
in which there is no method by which the people can 
make their will and wish known to their Government; 
no way by which the representative can consult the 
people; no voice on appointments, no effective way to 
keep clown corruption in public affairs, no way to ob- 


40 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

literate bribing, boodling and grafting, and all other 
kinds of abuses, wrongs and crimes in governmental 
affairs, and in which women have no voice whatever, 
are against the new method. 

The Silent Voter should prove to the people that 
the new method is the proper solution to the old polit¬ 
ical system, and that one must either accept it or op¬ 
pose it. There is no middle or neutral ground on which 
to stand. If a man or woman says they are opposed 
to the new method, one may have a well founded rea¬ 
son, and even positive proof, that they have been bene¬ 
fited in some way or other by corruption in public af¬ 
fairs, or they have expectations of getting a chance to 
practice dishonesty in public affairs. 

LEAD IN REFORM. 

This reform, like all other reforms, must be taken 
up and carried out by the most enlightened and intelli¬ 
gent men and women of our country. It may seem im¬ 
possible to some to form a Silent Voters organization 
in every precinct of the land. Let that not 
discourage you in the least. Take hold of this method 
regardless of political party faith, and organize Silent 
Voters, if only a few precincts in a county, 
or a few counties in a state, or a few states in the 
Nation. The effect for the better will be felt immedi¬ 
ately, especially in those counties and states where 
the political parties are of equal strength. The parties 
will not dare to ignore the Silent Voters.. It is not ab¬ 
solutely necessary to have organizations in all the pre¬ 
cincts of the county. The new method will work just 
the same. It can be used locally in city, county or 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 41 

state. It can be used at the very first election held in 
precinct, county or state, and its merits tested. If the 
officers of a county or state or city are all honest, so 
much the better, it is then the people’s duty to uphold 
it; if some are dishonest the new method will hold them 
in due bounds and correct the evil. Take the lead, then, 
all honest, upright, patriotic men and women, work 
hand in hand for the welfare of yourselves and the 
government you support. Invite neighbors and friends 
to follow and help you. 

PUBLIC PRESS. 

The public press should take an active part in the 
new method. The attitude taken by the press will 
show the people the position of the paper on the rights 
of the people. This country is already full of publi¬ 
cations that have battled faithfully for the people and 
their just rights, and have labored for honesty in pub¬ 
lic affairs. Some of the papers have come close onto 
the ideas embodied in the new method, and have there¬ 
by helped to clear the road for the people to follow the 
more readily and grasp the truths. For instance, many 
publications have made the following requests of their 
readers: “Write to your Congressman.” “Write to 
your Senator.” “Make your will and wish known to 
them.” “Ask them to vote for this bill or vote against 
that bill.” “Let your member in Congress know that 
you are watching him, and that you rely upon him to 
represent you correctly on this important measure.” 
“A few words will be sufficient, if several sign the 
postal card, so much the better; the expense is trivial, 
but the result may be of inestimable value.” Publi¬ 
cations of this class will certainly favor the new meth- 


42 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

od and be on the side of the Silent Voters. They will 
be an inestimable help in driving out blindness and 
ignorance; strengthen duty owed to one’s seif and the 
Government, renew degenerated patriotism, awaken 
self conscience and faith and restore new hopes in the 
“dont’s care” or “what’s the use” class. No reform can 
at the present age, be successfully accomplished with¬ 
out the aid of these friendly publications. 

There will in all probability be plenty of publica¬ 
tions which will oppose the new method. Their 
strength and influence should not be underestimated. 
They may claim it is unjust, unlawful or ineffective, 
all of which should be promptly answered, clearly and 
correctly. They may point out to the people defects, 
errors and mistakes, but the people should not forget 
that, as members of the Silent Voters, they are the 
masters and are in a position to correct any and all 
defects, errors and mistakes just as soon as discovered. 

These antagonistic publications can not really be 
blamed for the position taken. They are either the 
secret tools of corrupt officials or are instrumental in 
corruption whereby they have become wealthy. They 
are selfish and narrow minded, they judge the people 
by their stomach and pocketbook and not by their heart 

and mind. They are disinterested in the welfare of 
the mass of people. 

OLD POLITICAL SYSTEM VS. NEW METHOD 

It is a well known fact that our officers in our Leg¬ 
islatures are left in the dark and they become the prey 
of the professional lobbyist. They help to elect the 
Legislature by furnishing campaign money or paying 
campaign expenses. The Legislator then is already 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 43 

under some obligation to the lobbyist, who, with a lit¬ 
tle more influence, is able to get anything he desires. 
The officer’s ignorance of the will and wish of the peo¬ 
ple is a good excuse for him to serve the lobbyist. 

Under the new method the Legislators are under 
obligation to the people, who hold their resignation. 
The lobbyist or special privilege seeker will not pay 
campaign expenses, and if he should he would face 
that uncertainty of the Legislator keeping his position, 
that he would not dare risk his money or wit. If a 
Legislator would sell out it would be a very hard mat¬ 
ter for him to deliver the goods. In a very short time 
the lobbyist would be conspicuous on account of his 
absence. No matter how much money would be ex¬ 
pended by the lobbyist in a Legislature, or any 
other law making body, it would not affect the consci¬ 
entious will and wish of the people. Bribing and bood- 
ling will entirely lose their effect if the Silent Voters 
make their will and wish known to their representa¬ 
tives. The representatives would be forced to obey 
the people or else suffer the penalty, that of being 
discharged. 

It has been said that railroad officials were fur¬ 
nishing the members of Legislatures with passes, and 
that it was a bribe. Several states have enacted laws 
against it, as if that would put a stop to it. Every 
person will acknowledge that just as long as bribes 
have an effect, or that public officers are in a position 
to sell the right conferred upon them by the people, 
just so long will bribing and boodling continue. The 
great trouble with our present political system is that 
the politicians have it under their sway. They do not 
desire to blot out all official corruption. They advo- 


44 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

cate certain reforms from time to time, in which care¬ 
fully planned loopholes are left that will do away with 
certain evils; yet they are careful enough not to go be¬ 
yond and destroy it all, and the people catch on. As 
soon as their reform has been enacted into law they 
come back at the people again and tell them honestly 
that the law is defective and ineffective and that it 
needs fixing and patching. For instance, take the in¬ 
terstate commerce law, that was created years ago. 
The people were told that it would be a good thing. As 
soon as it was established and put into operation it 
was said to be defective and ineffective, which has 
been kept up to the present day. There must be a 
reason for all this. 

Were party rulers ever heard to advocate an or¬ 
derly method whereby the people could express their 
will and wish to their public servants, and they, in 
turn, could ascertain the opinion of their constituents 
in order to serve them better? The reader has un¬ 
doubtedly heard, “Back to the people,” “Connection 
with the people” and “In touch with* the people,” but 
he has never heard the political rulers advocate an or¬ 
derly method to that effect. The reason is that the po¬ 
litical bosses do not desire the people connected any 
closer with their government than at present. They 
fear that the corruption in public affairs might be dis¬ 
turbed and they forced out of a job. Correctly have 
they judged. The political rulers do not desire any 
disturbance after they have once taken their oath of 
office until their term expires, which period may be 
referred to as the corruption period. They wish to 
continue to use the people as their voting stock, and 
carry them to the polls and even pay them a little 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 45 

something for their vote, thus continuing their own 
prosperity in the face of destruction to the people. The 
new method abolishes this corruption, not by force or 
even by the enactment of a simple law, but simply by 
letting the people as a whole exert their inherited 
rights. Just as long as the corruption period lasts, 
just so long will the party rulers be safe in their dis¬ 
honesty. The Silent Voters’ power covers completely 
the period from the time an officer takes his oath of 
office until his term expires. Members of the Silent 
Voters organization do not forfeit any of their rights 
on account of casting a ballot on election day. They 
are just as strong the day after election as the day 
before, and their influence is just as great. They work 
in strict harmony with the political party in power, 
striving toward that which is of the best interest to 
state and nation. 

A careful study of the subject of the last twenty 
years has convinced the writer of two things: 

1. That our public servants have been underes¬ 
timated on the point of honesty and integrity. 

2. The demoralizing influences of the old politi¬ 
cal system have been estimated entirely too lightly. 
One is safe to say that ninety per cent of the public 

servants are at heart honest and upright and would 
cheerfully and willingly strive to do their full duty 

at all times if they only had a means of guidance. 
They have become a product of their environment. 
They are clad in uncertainty, every move they make 
they have no assurance that it meets with the support 
and approval of their constituents, They labor under 
a disadvantage which should not be tolerated any 
longer. 


46 The Nation's Best Thought , or 

Yes, they may write to some of their constituents 
whom they may know, and ascertain their opinion, but 
how much better would it be if there was a way where¬ 
by they could obtain the will and wish of all their con¬ 
stituents, with but very little trouble to themselves and 
the people, and yet be sure of results. 

Under the old political system men are forced to 
do things, in order to become nominated as candidates 
or elected to office, and even during their term of of¬ 
fice, of which they would not think of doing if they 
could help themselves. During the campaign the can¬ 
didates must submit to the gravest of abuses. Their 
honesty, as well as their good intentions, are ques¬ 
tioned. Their good name is defamed. They are 
proven, so to speak, immoral and their word is unre¬ 
liable. “Mud slinging” of the dirtiest kind is indulged 
in. They accuse each other of being thugs, thieves and 
highway robbers. They apparently prove beyond a 
reasonable doubt of one another, that the party to 
which they belong is untrustworthy, that it is the 
party of corruption, and if delegated to power, the 
whole nation will go to the dogs. Such is what the 
voter must listen to. Between the accusers he must 
choose. All he gets is an endless line of promises and 
pledges, which, as soon as election is safely over, are 
broken and forgotten. 

Weak minded people are excited by the creation 
of party hatred and party prejudices. Some are 

worked into a fever heat, so that when, on election day, 
they come to cast their vote, they are blind to every¬ 
thing. Such a condition of affairs cannot last. No 
relief is as yet offered by any political party. The 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 47 

new method, herewith proposed, in time will do away 
with all this that is objectionable. 

This old political system has no constitutional or 
statutory origin; it is a voluntary organization. Its 
usefulness has been outlived. That public officers can 
sell the people out to the highest bidder, or misrepre¬ 
sent them to their hearts' content, does not fit the pres¬ 
ent age. We have already received all from the old 
system that is coming to us. Prominent lecturers and 
writers have honestly tried to repair the lost motion 
of the old political machine, but so far have completely 
failed. The old machine is too far out of date to be 
used at the present age. New political parties have 
been formed, but with no great success. They have 
failed to strike at the root of the evil. One of the evils 
of the present day, upheld by some of our statesmen, 
and by which a great many of the people have been 
fooled, is that all reform must come from the top and 
then grow downward to the masses, which is in direct 
antagonism to our theory of self-government. All 
genuine reform must come from the people and then 
grow upward. The old political party machinery has 
been completely outlived and its parts worn out 
beyond repair. 

The old political parties can no more repair it 
than a surgeon can perform a surgical operation on 
his own diseased internals. It must be done by other 
surgeons. So with the old political system. The peo¬ 
ple themselves must take the matter in hand. There 
is entirely too much lost motion and waste of power; 
it is even a waste of time to try to fix it. Whenever a 
machine of any kind fails to do good work or there is 
too much lost motion, and consequently a waste of 


48 


The Nation's Best Thought , or 


power, it is promptly sent to the scrap pile and an up- 
to-date machine installed in its place. The political 
council and official resignation method is the up-to- 
date machine which is to supplant the old worn out 
one. In this up-to-date machine the lost motion and 
waste of power that were in the old one have been 
carefully taken up and placed in the hands of the peo¬ 
ple, where they of right belong. Voters must learn 
to stop casting “dead ballots” that disconnect them 
from their government. None but “live ballots” should 
be cast. Men and women should have their full right 
and voice in the government and make their influence 
felt at any time when they so desire, from the time a 
public officer takes the oath of office until his term 
expires. All this can only be accomplished by joining 
the Silent Voters organization. We have nothing more 
to expect from the old political system. It will bear no 
other fruit than it did in the past. 

Do not let the prosperity and progress which was 
enjoyed during the past years under the old system 
deceive you. That we have prospered and progressed 
in spite of public corruption and misrepresentation is 
due to the people’s thrift and good management in 
private affairs. No people can adjust themselves so 
quickly to changing conditions as the American peo¬ 
ple. While the people prospered, the cunning politi¬ 
cian also prospered, until he has brought it to a politi¬ 
cal system that was never intended for the people. We 
have got all that was coming to us and have nothing 
more to expect as long as it lasts. The cunning party 
bosses have made it a system of the politician, by the 
politician and for the politician, with equal rights to 
none, and special privileges to all who are willing to 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 49 

put up enough “stuff,” and the people “be damned,” 
keep still and bear it. 

That this has become a fact was not due to the 
invention or creation of one political party or one man 
or set of men, but to the negligence of the people them¬ 
selves. The power to right the existing wrongs and 
evils is in their hands, without the enactment of a law 
or even trouble. 

Under the old system the tendencies have been to¬ 
wards more law, a law for anything and everything. 
The people have been overburdened with too much 
law. This is slowly and surely proving a hindrance 
to ‘commercial prqgress. Our statutes are loaded down 
with the lawless laws. It is just as bad to have too 
much law as not enough. Under the new method a 
reaction would set in by which there would be more, 
business freedom in every walk of life. 

TENDENCIES OF NEW METHOD. 

The people, under the new method, through their 
inter-agents, Precinct, County, State and National Po¬ 
litical Councilmen, become the ruling power of the 
Government. The new rights and responsibilities will 
have a tendency to educate and enlighten them along 
another line. A careful and watchful eye will be kept 
upon all public affairs. They will receive a finer in¬ 
sight into the inner operations of our Government, and 
it will also create a greater respect for our public 
officials. The nation as a whole will be advanced sev¬ 
eral stages higher in the realm of civilization and sci¬ 
ence of self-government. Women will also have a full 
and equal part with men in keeping pure and upright 


'50 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

our public affairs. The religious and moral aspect of 
the people as a whole will be raised. The people’s wel¬ 
fare, rather than their own personal interest, will be 
uppermost in the minds of public servants. Tempta¬ 
tion to do wrong will be removed or else will be over¬ 
balanced by the fear of removal from office and the dis¬ 
grace connected therewith. 

DETAILS OF ORGANIZATION. 

u» ^ « *. 

Every citizen, either male or female, should con¬ 
sider himself a committee of one to spread the new 
method and be instrumental in organizing Silent 
Voters organizations in every voting precinct of the 
country. It makes no difference to what political par¬ 
ty one belongs, or of what belief, j ust so the four rights 
of the new method are accepted as necessary to the 
welfare of themselves and their posterity. After it is 
found that ten or more persons of a voting precinct 
are willing, or have been influenced in joining a Silent 
Voters organization, the temporary Silent Voters’ 
headquarters should be informed of the fact and nec¬ 
essary rules and obligation blanks requested, which 
will be sent immediately, free of charge. A mass meet¬ 
ing of the precinct may then be called by some one. 
The obligation blanks are then distributed to those 
who have none. All signing the same, or having al¬ 
ready signed the same and sent them in, become mem¬ 
bers of the Silent Voters of said precinct. A tempo¬ 
rary chairman and clerk are elected, who serve only 
until after the annual election of the Precinct Political 
Councilman. 

At the election of the Political Councilman the 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 51 

Silent Voters membership is closed for one year. No 
one can become a member until the next annual polit¬ 
ical council election. It is therefore necessary for all 
the men and women to join the Silent Voters before or 
on the first annual political council election. After¬ 
wards they will only be admitted on annual political 
council elections. It is not absolutely necessary to be 
present in person; all that is necessary is to have the 
obligation blank there properly signed on or before 
the day of the first Silent Voters annual political coun¬ 
cil election. No American citizen is barred from be¬ 
coming a member of a Silent Voters organization in 
his respective precinct. 

Each member is requested to pay thirty cents. 
This money is turned over to the clerk, who keeps a 
record of it. The thirty cents is divided up into three 
funds, ten cents for the organization expenses; ten 
cents to assist the Political Council in performing its 
duties, and ten cents for the temporary Silent Voters’ 
headquarters. 

There are no other dues or fees except as the or¬ 
ganization itself may decide. The taking of the 
obligation and payment of the assessment entitles one 
to become a member for life, providing one does his 
duty. In order to remain a member one must attend 
the annual Precinct Political Council election in per¬ 
son or else send word or a written notice to the effect 
that one desires to retain his voice and vote as a mem¬ 
ber. On failure to comply with this simple rule the 
member will be out until the next annual Political 
Council election. 


52 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

HEADQUARTERS. 

In order to bring about an equality in all the Si¬ 
lent Voters organizations of the country a temporary 
central point from which the work may be directed is 
a necessity. In accord with this, then, Silent Voters’ 
headquarters will be opened under proper super¬ 
vision. From this office the work of putting the new 
method into operation will be directed. When all the 
Political Councilmen have been elected, which will be 
prior to the general election of 1908, and the Silent 
Voters organization on a permanent basis, the tempo¬ 
rary headquarters will then be discontinued and a full 
report of the work accomplished made to the Silent 
Voters through the Political Council. 

Headquarters will be maintained by the ten cents 
per member, that each precinct organization will be 
required to send in. For this money the organizations 
will be sent necessary printed rules and regulations, 
obligation and sample resignation blanks. Also the 
certificate of membership will be issued to the precinct, 
county and state organizations. 

The precinct certificate of membership is the cre¬ 
dential of the Precinct political Councilman. It en¬ 
titles him to become a member of the County Political 
Council, which elects a County Political Councilman. 
This certificate shows the number of members and by 
this number the Precinct Political Councilman votes. 
The Councilman, voting by the whole number of mem¬ 
bers, brings about an equal representation. One mem¬ 
ber’s vote counts just as much as any other member’s 
vote. 

A county certificate of membership is issued to a. 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 53 

county after all rules have been complied with. This 
certificate is the credential of the County Political 
Councilman and entitles him to become a member of 
the State Political Council, which elects a State Polit¬ 
ical Councilman. This certificate shows the whole 
number of voters in the county, and by this number 
the County Political Councilman votes and reports. A 
certificate of membership is also issued to the state. 
It shows the state membership of Silent Voters. It 
is the State Political Councilman’s credential. 

By issuing these certificates of membership an 
equality and regularity will be established which could 
not be secured otherwise. Only one organization in a 
precinct will be recognized. 

Temporary rules and regulations will be sent with 
each Political Council election call. This call is sup¬ 
posed to be issued from headquarters whenever a pre¬ 
cinct has notified it of its readiness. It Is not deemed 
necessary to hold the Council election of all on the 
same day while the people’s organization is still in the 
embryo stage. Call for a County Political Councilman 
election will also be made by headquarters when the 
proper showing has been made by the various Silent 
Voters organizations of a county. Same way with the 
state and nation. These elections must all be held a 
sufficient length of time prior to the general election 
of public officers, so as to give the Councilmen time to 
do their work and report to the people on the candi¬ 
dates who have voluntarily tendered their resignations. 

At temporary headquarters able lawyers will be 
maintained who have made the legality of the Politi¬ 
cal Council and official resignation method a study. 
The resignations of the candidates are to be so drawn 


54 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

that they will be in accordance with the laws of the 
different states and positively binding, taking effect 
as soon as accepted by the Silent Voters. There ought 
to be no opening for litigation. Should, however, ques¬ 
tions arise amon,g the Silent Voters of any precinct as 
to the legality of certain parts or points in the differ¬ 
ent states, it should be made known to headquarters 
at once, where legal advisers will interpret it and send 
opinion back free of charge. The purpose is to make 
the new method agree with all the present laws of the 
Government. 


STANDING SALARY. 

It is the writer’s firm belief that just as soon as 
the people and public officers become acquainted and 
convinced of the benefits of the new method and see 
the necessity and usefulness of the Political Council- 
men, the Political Council will be placed on a stand¬ 
ing salary, same as other public officers. One-half of 
the stealings and grafting which could not exist under 
the new method in public affairs, would more than pay 

the Councilmen a good annual salary. 

Their salary could also be saved in court expenses, 
resulting from the prosecution of public corruption 
and other useless trials. Their salary could be more 
than saved by discharging useless inspectors, secret 
spies, investigating committees, standing boards and 
other commissions, together with artificial and pur¬ 
posely created offices for party politicians, which 
would not be needed if the people were allowed to help 
govern. Putting the Political Council on a standing 
salary will be one of the best investments the people 
ever made. The contentment it will briiy? to the peo¬ 
ple and satisfaction to honest public officers will more 
than be equal to the trouble and expenditure of main¬ 
taining the Political Council. 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 55 

THE MASSES ARE READY. 

The great trouble with the people of the United 
States has been that they have been politically asleep. 
This would not be so bad, for all nations sleep once in 
a while, but the American people have been sleeping 
on their own just political rights, and in their sleep 
dreaming of a government of the people, by the peo¬ 
ple, and for the people, with equal rights to all and 
special privileges to none. Public writers and speak¬ 
ers have repeated the dream so often that the people 
believed it to be the truth, and that all that was neces¬ 
sary was to keep on voting. But it will surely remain 
an idle dream as long as the old political system will 
last. Under the new method this ideal dream will be¬ 
come a living fact, so plain that every man and woman 
can see, hear and feel it. 

It may seem strange to the reader that the four 
rights as contained in the new method were not put 
into usage long ago. It need not surprise anyone, for 
the longer we live under our theory of government the 
better will it be understood, just as a child in its de¬ 
velopment will understand more fully, as it grows 
older, the teachings ot its parents. One hundred years 
ago progress in all its divisions was slow. Govern¬ 
ment affairs were small compared to those of today. 
“Secure the blessings of liberty” was a new thing.. 
Fifty years ago there were other human rights in the 
states and nation that occupied the attention of the 
people. The “blessings of liberty” were just being set¬ 
tled and understood. Twenty-five years ago communi¬ 
cation and transportation were yet lacking to make the 
new method practicable, although it was then already 

I > >> 

> > 

) > > 


56 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

a necessity. Only in the last five years have those ad¬ 
vancements been made that are necessary and essential 
to the perfect work of the new method. A wonderful 
change has been wrought among the common people 
during these last few years. Through the rural free 
delivery, rural telephone lines, and all other agents ol 
communication has it only become possible to put the 
new method into practice. 

The new method could not be a success without a 
quick and close communication of one part of the coun¬ 
ty with another. We have this communication now, 
yet no method. The people know what they want in¬ 
dividually, but they do not know what they want col¬ 
lectively. There is no way to impart their desires to 
the Government, and it is not reasonable to expect, at 
this day and age, that our statesmen an cl representa¬ 
tives can guess correctly the will and wish of their 
constituents. The action of the statesmen of the last 
twenty years reminds one of a man who has lost his 
way on a cold winter's day. Rather than stop and 
freeze to death, he keeps on moving, even if he feels 
that he is getting farther away from home with every 
step. Just so have our statesmen been wandering; 
rather than stand still and become politically chilled 
to death, they keep on going, even if tney know they 
are wrong. What a help the new method would be to 
them. 

But with all the great progress made in the field 
of communication, there is something lacking. The 
people’s attention had to be aroused and acquainted 
with the fact that obedience of law and order, honesty 
in public affairs, was necessary to their welfare and 
happiness. This also has taken place in the last few 


'Political Council and Official Resignation Method 57 

years. This country is fast approaching the close of 
a great political epoch in the onward march of its po¬ 
litical history. The mind of the nation has been turned 
to a higher common ground. The people have been 
awakened. It is nothing new to find a mossbacked 
Democrat a regular subscriber to a Republican news¬ 
paper, or a standpat Republican reading Democratic 
papers. The search for facts and truths has only 
bQgun, and it will not stop until the people find what 
they desire. They have been reminded of their duty 
which they owe to them*'" 1 ^"* and their Government, 
and the just rights they have and are entitled to in re¬ 
turn for their duty. The great mass of the common 
people everywhere are restless and dissatisfied with 
the present existing political rule. They long to use 
their voice in public affairs. In other wrods, they have 
been prepared and are ready for the new method. They 
are willing to furnish a clear light whereby all will be 
able to see. They will never ask for anything that can 
not be enjoyed by all or that would be detrimental to 
business or progress. Our Government, then, will be 
run on a “live and let live” basis. 

PUBLIC OPINION. 

Public speakers and writers have, from time to 
time, pointed to public opinion as a factor in public 
affairs as being just and right and that it could be 
safely accepted by representatives and rulers. Pub¬ 
lic opinion is a voluntary force which arises from the 
people’s conscience. It is a power and a higher law in 
itself. It cannot be controlled or regulated by consti¬ 
tutional or statutory laws any more than a law can 


58 


The Nation’s Best Thought, or 


affect an individual’s conscience. Public opinion has 
no equal on the point of obedience to law and order. 
Organized public opinion is a product of the present 
advanced stage of Christianity and civilization. The 

masses of people have ripened, step by step, until the 
time is at hand for them to voluntarily accept the 
Political Council and Official Resignation Method, 
which places the four unused people’s rights in their 
hands to be used at once, and at any time and every¬ 
where, thus harnessing and utilizing organized public 
opinion for the welfare of our nation. 

Should any reader doubt the capability of the peo¬ 
ple to properly handle organized public opinion, har¬ 
nessed and handled through the four great rights by 
the Political Council, as directed by the people, the fol¬ 
lowing facts are cited as proof: 

1. The religious institutions in all parts of the 
land, in which the best there is in man is trained and 
cultivated, and the numerous -churches in which the 
eternal truth, honesty and justice is taught. 

2. The great number of public institutions of 
learning and highe r education, which are open to both 
the rich and poor alike. 

3. The powerful public press, which is sent 
crisscross through the country, on overland fliers, and 
delivered daily at the door of the people at a price too 
small to mention, in which every single phase of life is 
minutely discussed, from the cradle to the grave. 

4. The very small percentage of illiterate in our 
population. 

These facts stand as a guarentee that the people 
are ready and capable of handling collected public 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 59 

opinion. No one should hesitate to accept the new 
method. 

If a public officer’s resignation is accepted and he 
becomes discharged by public opinion, it should not be 
looked upon as a punishment. The Silent Voters orga¬ 
nization does not punish officers, it only accepts a res¬ 
ignation when an officer breaks faith or is contemplat¬ 
ing such. If he is punished, it is by his own conscience, 
for which the Silent Voters are not responsible. 

When we look back to barbarous times, when pub¬ 
lic opinion was undeveloped and the ruling factor 
among the masses was the animal instinct, we notice 
that when those public rulers became corrupt, op¬ 
pressive and burdensome to the people, it would be 
borne from week to month, from year to generation, 
until a stage had been reached where it could be borne 
no longer; then, like the wild beast of the forest, af¬ 
ter being pursued until all vitality is exhausted, it 
turned on its pursuers, ready to defend itself with the 
last sparks of life, so the masses would turn and seek 
vengeance by beheading their rulers and all those who 
had been oppressive to them. With public opinion 
thoroughly in harness, a revolution is avoided and is 
not necessary to right the wrong. The people do not 
have to wait until they are overburdened with broken 
pledges, broken laws and other crimes committed by 
public officers before they make a demonstration. Be¬ 
forehand they, in a simple and commonsense way, test 
the conscience of a candidate or ruler by handing him 
a resignation blank for him to sign. It will bear fruit 
at once; a candidate who is planning to be dishonest 
and corrupt if elected, will not tender his resignation, 
especially when it is to take effect as soon as accepted 


60 The Nation's Best Thought, or 

by the people at any time during his term of office. 

Note how much better this method is than be¬ 
heading them. Note how much better it is than to con-, 
vict them and send them to state's prison for life, 
where the State has to feed them. 

Note how much better it is to deal with them be¬ 
fore they break faith rather than expensive lawsuits. 
Note with what ease and fairness it is accomplished, 
and how much better it is for both the people and their 
public servants. And lastly, note what an effective 
and powerful protection, with very little expense and 
trouble, it is to the people. 

Public opinion, from a mere animal instinct, has 
developed, from century to century, step by step, keep¬ 
ing pace with the slow progress of civilization. The 
exact role it played in shaping and moulding the 
world's history is very little known and understood. 
It probably existed in the very primitive stage of man, 
developing slowly with his progress until, up to the 
present age, it is recognized by progressive thinkers 
and public men as a factor, as a power, as an unwritten 
law in itself. It is beyond repeal or amendment. It is 
the nation’s -conscience. It is the engendered Chris¬ 
tian teachings, containing all the finer virtues and 
moral duties and higher achievements of civilization. 
It is the inner voice of a nation, same as conscience is 
the inner voice of man, and when it speaks it should 
not be ignored or trampled underfoot. 

Public opinion should not longer be ignored and 
allowed to go to waste in the United States. It should 
be collected by the Political Council and utilized for 
its welfare and safety. Yes, the -citizens are capa¬ 
ble, ripe and ready to utilize public opinion and apply 
it to public affairs for the welfare and benefit of all. 


Political Council and Official Resignation Method 61 

CONCLUSION. 

The new method has been exemplified thoroughly 
enough so that it may be readily understood and com¬ 
prehended. It is hoped that its usefulness and the ne¬ 
cessity of its establishment can clearly be seen. We 
have shown that no new laws in state or nation are 
necessary, either to put it into operation or make it 
effective. The people must unite for political self-de¬ 
fense by forming Silent Voters organizations. Women 
as well as men are eligible to become Silent Voters. 

A Political Council is elected by the Silent Voters. 
It is the connecting link between the people and their 
Government. It is in entire control of the Silent Vot¬ 
ers, serving under resignation to them. Through it, 
as agents, the people make use of, enorce and put into 
operation their present unused inherited rights, viz.: 

1. The right of the people to express their will 
and wish to their representatives at any time. 

2. The right of the representatives or any offi¬ 
cers having a legislative power to consult their Silent 
Voter constituents. 

3. The right of the people to be the ruling fac¬ 
tor in appointments. 

4. The people, possessing the right to discharge 
any unfaithful officer, through the Political Council, 
public opinion is harnessed and utilized. 

It has been shown that it is not burdensome to 
public officers, but a help. It has been shown that the 
old political system has been outlived and that the 
people are desirous of a change, a change from corrup¬ 
tion to honesty. 

At present the better element of the people are 


62 


The Nation's Best Thought, or 


scattered, separated and divided between the various 
political parties. The politicians have not allowed 
them to unite. The new method makes it possible for 
them to unite for the common good. In short, under 
the new method the welfare and safety of the people 
will be the highest aim of those who govern. 

We appeal to you, my readers, regardless of your 
political party faith, to carefully measure the truths, 
facts and common sense of the new method. Your 
conscience will be a safe guide with which to j udge the 
Nation’s Best Thought, or the Political Council and 
Official Resignation Method. 










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